Published: Friday, August 31, 2012 at 3:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, August 31, 2012 at 3:16 p.m.

Palmetto Police Officer Dave Burns has a silent partner who watches his every move, gathers evidence he might miss and preserves his reputation if a citizen calls to complain.

The Coban Technologies video camera system mounted in Burns' squad car is not cheap: the unit retailed for around $10,000. Despite that, his department has had dash cams since the 1990s.

Palmetto Police officials say they believe that the benefits that the video camera provides to officers, the department and the public, far outweigh the costs.

The question of whether cameras should be standard fare in all police cars has come into sharp focus in recent months following a spate of incidents where the technology could have provided critical evidence in disputes about whether officers acted properly.

But the Palmetto department's commitment to video technology is unique among law-enforcement agencies in Southwest Florida.

The Manatee County and Sarasota County sheriff's offices equip only their DUI units with cameras. Manatee County sheriff's spokesman Dave Bristow has a succinct answer for why his agency only has the devices in 11 traffic cars: "Money."

Burns, a seven-year veteran and field training officer for the Palmetto Police Department, said he would not patrol without one.

"I like it," he said. "It's saved all of us from citizen complaints, and it gathers a lot of evidence."

Burns uses the playback feature to help rookies hone their officer safety skills. The camera shows the trainees errors that could get them killed when they start patrolling on their own. Even seasoned officers use this feature.

Palmetto Police Lt. Scott Tyler touts the evidence gathering ability of the all-seeing cameras, and increased public confidence they instill. As the department's internal affairs investigator, the cameras also make his job easier.

In recent weeks Tyler dismissed three complaints against his fellow officers. The camera does not lie, unlike a driver who may be unhappy they received a ticket.

Tyler will often show the video to the person who complained. Sometimes it reveals a flat-out fabrication, but often it shows a difference in perception.

"I think everybody goes away with a better understanding," he said.

A silent partner

Dash cams could have provided video evidence of what happened in June, when two Sarasota County deputies shot and killed Rodney Mitchell during a routine traffic stop.

The deputies said they fired at the 23-year-old because he tried to run one of them over with his SUV. But a witness claims that the deputies were not in the car's path.

Prosecutors later ruled the shooting was justified, but the case is likely to be litigated again in civil court.

In Sarasota County, Deputy Dominic Fornal recently found that evidence captured by his dash cam could also benefit those whom he arrested.

In May Fornal stopped a Jaguar XJ8 driven by Joseph McNeal after following it out of a bar parking lot. The video caught Fornal telling McNeal that the deputy smelled a strong odor of raw marijuana coming from the vehicle, which Fornal was following in his patrol car at 35 mph. Both cars had the windows up.

Fornal told McNeal he was searching the car, rather than asking for consent to search.

Two hours later, all that Fornal, three other deputies, a Venice police officer and two drug-sniffing dogs could find was a burned marijuana cigarette "roach" in the car's trunk. All charges against McNeal were later dropped.

Maj. Kevin Kenney, another administrator for the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, noted that it would cost more than $1.3 million to equip the agency's entire patrol fleet with cameras, a price that does not include servers or required IT upgrades.

Grant funds drying up

Law enforcement agencies first turned to dash-mounted video cameras in the 1990s, after several were sued for racial profiling.

A 2007 report by the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics shows that 61 percent of local police departments had video cameras in patrol cars — a statistic experts say has certainly increased.

The Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS — a component of the U.S. Justice Department — had been the source of federal money for video camera technology in past years.

Before COPS began offering financial assistance, only 11 percent of state police equipped their patrol fleet with cameras. Now, more than 70 percent of all state police departments have video cameras.

But agencies that have waited until now to buy the expensive systems often find the grants have dried up, said COPS spokesman Corrie Ray.

"It's been a tough year for agencies seeking technology," Ray said.

His agency is looking for funding sources into 2013.

The Florida Highway Patrol recently received a $6.1 million state grant, which it used to buy 1,029 Panasonic "Arbitrator 360" camera systems at $4,703 each. The grant also included funds for 28 servers, which are positioned across the state.

"They provide documentation of statements made and actions taken during traffic stops that can help protect both the resident and trooper," Rasmussen said. "Cameras in cars are a national trend and keeping up with technology and moving forward as an agency is key."

<p>Palmetto Police Officer Dave Burns has a silent partner who watches his every move, gathers evidence he might miss and preserves his reputation if a citizen calls to complain.</p><p>The Coban Technologies video camera system mounted in Burns' squad car is not cheap: the unit retailed for around $10,000. Despite that, his department has had dash cams since the 1990s.</p><p>Palmetto Police officials say they believe that the benefits that the video camera provides to officers, the department and the public, far outweigh the costs.</p><p>The question of whether cameras should be standard fare in all police cars has come into sharp focus in recent months following a spate of incidents where the technology could have provided critical evidence in disputes about whether officers acted properly.</p><p>But the Palmetto department's commitment to video technology is unique among law-enforcement agencies in Southwest Florida.</p><p>The Manatee County and Sarasota County sheriff's offices equip only their DUI units with cameras. Manatee County sheriff's spokesman Dave Bristow has a succinct answer for why his agency only has the devices in 11 traffic cars: "Money."</p><p>Burns, a seven-year veteran and field training officer for the Palmetto Police Department, said he would not patrol without one.</p><p>"I like it," he said. "It's saved all of us from citizen complaints, and it gathers a lot of evidence."</p><p>Burns uses the playback feature to help rookies hone their officer safety skills. The camera shows the trainees errors that could get them killed when they start patrolling on their own. Even seasoned officers use this feature. </p><p>Palmetto Police Lt. Scott Tyler touts the evidence gathering ability of the all-seeing cameras, and increased public confidence they instill. As the department's internal affairs investigator, the cameras also make his job easier.</p><p>In recent weeks Tyler dismissed three complaints against his fellow officers. The camera does not lie, unlike a driver who may be unhappy they received a ticket. </p><p>Tyler will often show the video to the person who complained. Sometimes it reveals a flat-out fabrication, but often it shows a difference in perception. </p><p>"I think everybody goes away with a better understanding," he said. </p><p>A silent partner</p><p>Dash cams could have provided video evidence of what happened in June, when two Sarasota County deputies shot and killed Rodney Mitchell during a routine traffic stop.</p><p>The deputies said they fired at the 23-year-old because he tried to run one of them over with his SUV. But a witness claims that the deputies were not in the car's path.</p><p>Prosecutors later ruled the shooting was justified, but the case is likely to be litigated again in civil court.</p><p>In Sarasota County, Deputy Dominic Fornal recently found that evidence captured by his dash cam could also benefit those whom he arrested.</p><p>In May Fornal stopped a Jaguar XJ8 driven by Joseph McNeal after following it out of a bar parking lot. The video caught Fornal telling McNeal that the deputy smelled a strong odor of raw marijuana coming from the vehicle, which Fornal was following in his patrol car at 35 mph. Both cars had the windows up.</p><p>Fornal told McNeal he was searching the car, rather than asking for consent to search.</p><p>Two hours later, all that Fornal, three other deputies, a Venice police officer and two drug-sniffing dogs could find was a burned marijuana cigarette "roach" in the car's trunk. All charges against McNeal were later dropped.</p><p>Maj. Kevin Kenney, another administrator for the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, noted that it would cost more than $1.3 million to equip the agency's entire patrol fleet with cameras, a price that does not include servers or required IT upgrades. </p><p>Grant funds drying up</p><p>Law enforcement agencies first turned to dash-mounted video cameras in the 1990s, after several were sued for racial profiling.</p><p>A 2007 report by the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics shows that 61 percent of local police departments had video cameras in patrol cars — a statistic experts say has certainly increased.</p><p>The Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS — a component of the U.S. Justice Department — had been the source of federal money for video camera technology in past years.</p><p>Before COPS began offering financial assistance, only 11 percent of state police equipped their patrol fleet with cameras. Now, more than 70 percent of all state police departments have video cameras.</p><p>But agencies that have waited until now to buy the expensive systems often find the grants have dried up, said COPS spokesman Corrie Ray.</p><p>"It's been a tough year for agencies seeking technology," Ray said. </p><p>His agency is looking for funding sources into 2013.</p><p>The Florida Highway Patrol recently received a $6.1 million state grant, which it used to buy 1,029 Panasonic "Arbitrator 360" camera systems at $4,703 each. The grant also included funds for 28 servers, which are positioned across the state. </p><p>Highway Patrol spokeswoman Capt. Nancy Rasmussen said the units provide "a sense of safety and security for our troopers."</p><p>"They provide documentation of statements made and actions taken during traffic stops that can help protect both the resident and trooper," Rasmussen said. "Cameras in cars are a national trend and keeping up with technology and moving forward as an agency is key."</p>